Microtune unveils a high-performance cable modem tuner designed to expand network capacity and reduce power consumption for battery-backed VoIP cable modems.

Supporting the Cable Labs DOCSIS 2.0, EuroDOCSIS 2.0 and PacketCable specifications, Microtune’s new tuner (the MicroTuner MT2064) expands modem bandwidth to 1-GigaHertz networks, while drawing only 800 milliWatts of power. When integrated into consumer cable equipment, the new MicroTuner MT2064 enables VoIP digital phone service to meet primary-line levels of quality and functionality with increased reliability.

“Power consumption and bandwidth expansion are critical issues affecting cable telephony and data communications services,” said James A. Fontaine, Microtune’s President and CEO. “The new MT2064 is based on our field-proven, DOCSIS-certifiable tuner architecture. It not only opens up additional bandwidth to 1GHz but does so with a twenty per cent reduction in power compared to our previous generation of cable modem tuners. It offers enabling technology that permits manufacturers to preserve battery life during a power outage, thereby increasing available talk time when it is needed most.”

NEW FAMILY OF 1-GHZ TUNERS SHOWCASED AT CABLE EXPO 2007

The new MicroTuner MT2064 chip is the latest member of Microtune’s family of 1-GHz products, which also includes the company’s recently announced wideband DOCSIS 3.0 and MoCA-compatible tuners. Targeted specifically for cable VoIP modems, the MT2064 tuner is the only low-power, robust-performance 1-GHz tuner available in the industry today. Microtune will showcase the MT2064 chip this month along with its entire suite of tuners, evaluation boards and reference designs at the upcoming Cable-Tec Expo 2007 June 20th-22nd at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL.

THE MICROTUNER MT2064 FEATURES

The MT2064 is a complete broadband tuner with integrated first intermediate frequency filter, low-noise amplifier and fully integrated automatic gain control. It features low phase noise and high linearity—technical parameters that are required to ensure not only minimum distortion in voice applications, but also reliability in high-speed Internet connections. The tuner consumes only 800 milliWatts of power for extended battery life and talk time for users, and it can also be used in cable operators’ extended frequency networks up to 1GHz. The tuner supports both DOCSIS 2.0-based VoIP cable modems and PacketCable-based embedded multimedia terminal adapters.

The MT2064 tuner is also engineered to offer immunity to interference in cable networks with severe differences in signal strength across the input frequency band, ensuring quality signals across the entire system.

The MT2064 is packaged into a miniature 6-millimeter square chip that operates with a 3.3-Volt supply. With its high levels of integration, the MT2064 allows for simplified and cost-efficient system design, compact layout and reduced radio frequency circuit bill of materials costs. As an implementation and time-to-market advantage, the MT2064 interfaces directly to standard demodulator chips, eliminating the need for customized products.

Mr. Fontaine added, "As the leading supplier of RF tuner solutions for the cable marketplace, we offer a comprehensive range of advanced tuners that permit our customers to quickly develop and deploy next-generation cable premise equipment in an increasingly competitive environment. As a critical electronics component, our new MT2064 tuner helps our customers meet the rigorous performance, cost and power demands of digital phone and high-speed data services.”